The last time these teams met in competitive action was on 17 April 1964, as the Blues were heading into Division Three by way of a promotion, an achievement helped by a 4-1 victory over the Bluebirds here at Brunton Park on that Friday night.
Barrow finished bottom of the Football League that year, but better was to come as they rebuilt and forged a path to Division Three for themselves at the end of the 1966/67 campaign.
By then, Carlisle had become a solid Division Two side, and a dramatic Barrow decline saw them eventually voted out of the league in the summer of 1972.
Having won promotion as National League champions last season, the Bluebirds were back at Brunton Park looking to register their first league victory since losing their place some 48 years ago.
Forward Gime Toure was back from his dead leg, so he stepped up to make the only change to the starting line up from last weekend as he replaced Dean Furman.
United attacked the Waterworks End from the off and it was an interception by Mellish which sparked the first attack. He fed it to Walker, and support arrived for him from Anderton. A deep cross was eventually cleared as Toure tried to find space.
An excellent opening was created on 9 minutes for the Blues when McDonald pinged a raking pass to Walker on the left flank. He turned his man then delivered, and Mellish was a whisker away from finishing it off as he arrived late.
Heavy rain beat down on the players as both sides worked hard to gain the upper hand, and it was Carlisle who enjoyed the bulk of the early pressure as they sent a string of crosses into the area from wide.
Good work from Alessandra saw him shrug off a challenge as he worked his way along the edge of the box, and he looked to see Mellish steaming in. The midfielder connected well but he couldn't keep his effort down and it rose just over the angle of post and bar.
A long kick from Farman brought a neat flick from Kayode which gave Walker room to work. He dropped a shoulder and drilled it low but it was hooked away before Alessandra could wrap it up.
An excellent piece of football saw Alessandra thread a dinked pass through for Kayode to latch on to, and he slipped it through Brough's legs before bearing down on goal. Dixon was off his line quickly to make a superb save as he dived low to palm it away.
The deserved lead was claimed on 24 minutes when Toure feinted to cross leaving Brough on the floor. A clipped pass found Mellish, eight yards out from the target, and he didn't disappoint as he guided his header into the bottom corner to register his first goal for the club.
Barrow looked for a response and a run and grasscutting cross from Brough made its way across the face of the target. Barry put his boot through it from a tight angle but Farman dropped smartly to make a save.
More trickery from Toure earned a free kick tight by the touchline at the other end, and Tanner picked out Kayode with a flighted ball. His downward header was smothered by Dixon as Toure slid in.
Carlisle should have doubled the lead on 36 minutes when Mellish made a vital interception in his own half. Toure had switched wings, and he mesmerised two before bending it towards Kayode. The forward twisted his neck to make the header but it dropped a millimetre the wrong side of the upright.
Farman was in action again when Angus pulled away from his marker just before the break, but the keeper was well set to deal with the stinging drive that came his way as the forward burst through.
An early second half misplaced pass from Biggins sent Toure free, as he took it on his instep, but a heavy touch meant that his run came to an end when the ball smashed into the side netting.
Brown fizzed an effort well wide when Barrow broke in numbers, as a United attack crumbled, and Tanner had a volley charged down as a long throw from Kayode came his way. The ricochet fell to Alessandra but his volley climbed high.
Carlisle carved the visitors open on 54 minutes when Kayode popped a pass for Alessandra to meet. His cut back was put behind just as Kayode set himself to make the finish.
Disaster struck for the hosts moments later when Aaron Hayden got in a tangle with James Jones as the corner went deep. The whistle blew and the United man was shown a straight red card. Jones received treatment and was substituted to be replaced by Josh Kay.
United reshaped as Mellish dropped to left back and Anderton stepped inside, and the defence was tested when Biggins took charge of 26-yard free kick. It had power but it was always too high.
The hosts almost found a way through when Toure was sent on an overlap, and he thought he'd picked out Alessandra until Hardcastle got in the way.
Barrow had a real chance to equalise when slick passing left Quigley with just Farman to beat. The big stopper spread himself to make a fantastic save, and he was up quickly to deal with the follow up drive from Barry.
Barry was twice involved again on 80 minutes for the away side as he first saw a piercing cross tipped high by Farman. The recovered ball came his way but he was under pressure from Mellish and he could only head wide.
A whopping 12 minutes of added time had to be played, which brought much nail biting for the Carlisle contingent, and a long-range shot from Mike Jones had to be tipped wide as the away side sent everyone forward.
Hardcastle was booked as he went to the floor looking for a penalty, as the clock ticked on, and a goalmouth scramble somehow stayed out when the ball spooned off Farman and over Quigley's head as he stood in space on the line.
A late header from Kay went wide, and there was another almighty scramble to deal with inside the six-yard box, but Carlisle had weathered the storm to well and truly claim the bragging rights.
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Goals
Carlisle United - Mellish (24)
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Bookings
Carlisle United - Mellish (10), Anderton (69), Guy (90)
Sent off - Hayden (54)
Barrow - Quigley (75), Brough (80), Hardcastle (90), Kay (90)
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Teams
Carlisle United - Farman, Tanner, Hayden, McDonald, Anderton (c), Guy, Mellish, Alessandra (Devine 84), Walker (Reilly 73), Kayode, Toure (Charters 90). Subs - Dewhurst (gk), Hunt, Riley, Malley.
Barrow - Dixon, Brown, Brough, M Jones, Quigley, Hardcastle (c), J Jones (Kay 65), Beadling, Angus, Biggins (James 77), Barry. Subs - Lillis (gk), Taylor, Hird, Wilson.
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Match officials
Referee - Ben Toner
Assistant Referee 1 - Paul Newhouse
Assistant Referee 2 - Gary Hilton
Fourth Official - Chris Isherwood
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Attendance - behind closed doors
